Wellness program remains an option for Bonner County

SANDPOINT - Bonner County commissioners declined on Tuesday to adopt policies establishing an employee wellness program and preventing tobacco users from being hired.

The policies proposed by Commissioner Mike Nielsen remain under consideration as the board tries to get its arms around rising medical costs.

Nielsen moved for the adoption of the policies, but the motion found no second with commissioners Lewie Rich or Cornel Rasor.

The commission ultimately agreed to table the items until the county finishes reviewing more than a dozen insurance broker proposals which have wellness program components.

If implemented, the wellness program would result in higher insurance premiums for elected and appointed county officials who have unhealthy lifestyles and no plans to change.

The proposal ran into stiff opposition from elected and appointed county officials on Tuesday. Some called it corrosive to morale and discriminatory, while others questioned the program's short-term savings to taxpayers and doubted it would be enough to sidestep impending layoffs.